Boot Trainer for skiiers seeking greater downhill performance.

SkiA Designs Ltd, based in Lancashire, has launched the SkiA Sweetspot Trainer – a revolutionary new device consisting of specially designed balance blocks that clip to the underneath of a skier’s boot to line up exactly with the location of the “sweetspot,” helping to improve balance and coordination.

This unique training device shows skiers how to find their “sweetspot” resulting in better balance, smoother turns and a more professional style

By wearing the trainer, skiers can practice on the balance blocks away from the slopes so that when they hit the snow, their balance and coordination on the sweetspot is dramatically improved.

Martin Breach, Director for SkiA Designs and inventor of the device explains; “Using the sweetspot is the best-kept secret in skiing. Many skiers are unaware of its importance and may mistakenly believe that it is found under the ball of the foot, or even under the toes. In fact, it is right in the center of the foot.

“Expert skiers know that balance on the sweetspot is essential for good style, control and performance.  Modern skis and boots are designed to work around this point, and using the sweetspot requires much less effort – which greatly reduces fatigue and muscle pain, making skiing at any speed much safer. The Sweetspot Trainer allows skiers to find and balance on exactly the right point for their skis to work perfectly.”

Trainer without ski boot.

The Sweetspot Trainer was developed with Hugh Monney – founder of the British Alpine Ski School (BASS) who commented; “The SkiA Sweetspot Trainer gives skiers the opportunity to improve their balance and coordination in a very sophisticated way. After a few minutes practice on the trainers, skiers benefit from a very clear and specific understanding of what it means to balance skilfully on skis. This is an insight that can elude even very experienced skiers. The Sweetspot Trainers will take users directly to this new experience.”

Each pair of SkiA Sweetspot Trainers includes four different sized balance blocks – green (beginner), blue (intermediate), red (advanced) and black (expert).  By using the trainer, beginners can progress quickly from snowplough to parallel turns, while intermediates can refine their technique, learning how to make effective turns in all conditions and developing the skills needed for advanced skiing. Expert skiers can also use the Sweetspot Trainer to practice and perfect their skills in preparation for racing or off-piste skiing.

The Sweetspot Trainer also comes with a detailed instruction manual written by Hugh Monney that offers advice and tips on how to improve ski techniques in all areas of the sport.

James Lamb, BASI International Ski Teacher and Director of BASS Morzine added; “Great skiing depends upon great balance, yet most skiers are unaware of how to balance accurately.  The SkiA Sweetspot Trainer is a fantastic tool for developing the natural, coordinated movements necessary for skilful skiing and directing them through specific balance targets.  The Sweetspot Trainer is a powerful training aid that will benefit every single skier, regardless of ability.”

The Sweetspot Trainer has been tested and approved by former British Ski Racing Squad coach, Chris Hill – who has used it with racers attending training camps of the British Alpine Ski Racing Club.

The Sweetspot Trainer is priced at $69.95 per pair.

By Dan Sanchez

Most visitors to Yosemite hike along the valley floor, but the Hetch Hetchy area offers many unknown surprises.  Native inhabitants lived in Hetch Hetchy for more than 6,000 years. Historians claim the Miwock Indians called it hetchhetchie, as the word means “edible grasses”. In 1913 the federal government passed the Raker Act, which permitted the construction of a dam that would flood the Hetch Hetchy valley. While the glacier carved valley still remains under water, Wampa Falls still pours water into the reservoir. This hike is not as popular as others, but it takes you through a variety of interesting and historical structures.

The Wampa Falls hike is an easy 5.5 miles round trip trek and can be seen from the O’Shaughnessy Dam that was finished in 1923. Starting from Yosemite Valley, take highway 120 north and exit at the Big Oak Flat gate. Turn at the Evergreen Road that leads to Hetch Hetchy, and follow it for 16 miles. The road will end at a parking lot near the reservoir. The lot just pased the reservoir is closest to the Wampa Falls trail head. You begin by crossing the O’Shaughnessy Dam. On the southern edge of the reservoir, you’ll see Kolana Rock, a large granite dome that remains when the glacier carved out the valley.

The trail then takes you past Tueeulala Falls that drops 840 feet before you get to beautiful patches of wildflowers. Afterwards, you’ll find yourself at the base of Wampa Fall. There are several bridges that span the cascades at the base of Wapama Falls. On a hot summer day, the spray can be cool and refreshing and is sure to get you wet. The trial is mostly exposed, without trees and shade. So it’s a good idea to bring sun protection and plenty of water. During the spring seasons when the water level is high, the trail can be ankle deep in streams that cross it. So good, water-proof boots or quick drying boots are in order.

The Rancheria Falls trail is another in the Hetch Hetchy area. The trail continues past Wapama Fall and is much longer at 13-miles round trip. You can make it an extended day hike or get a wilderness pass and make it a two-day backpack excursion. Either way, you’ll see beautiful views of the valley and experience the Rancheria mountains that make up the northwest wilderness of Yosemite.

If you want a challenge, the Smith Peak trail reaches 7,751 feet, the highest point in the area. You can start this hike from the entrance station before you get to Hetch Hetchy, just passed the Mather Ranger Station. The trial is 13-miles round trip that spans 3,700 feet in elevation gain. The Smith Peak trails are often used to get into the high country.

When you want to experience the backcountry, try the The Laurel/Vernon/Rancheria loop. This 29-mile hike offers spectacular views of Hetch Hetchy,and several high-Sierra lakes. The first four miles of this loop follow the old Lake Eleanor Road as it climbs out of the valley. You can take a leisurely pace making 8-miles per day, and enjoy a say at Lake Vernon, Laurel Lake, and Lake Eleanor. For more information on any of Yosemitie’s hiking and backpacking trails, vist www.nps.gov/yose

Your investment on this mountaineering boot will be in the range of: $425.00 for the women’s or men’s Nepal Evo GTX. You can purchase La Sportiva and research most all your mountaineering gear by working going to: www.Whittakermountaineering.com .

Women's La Sportiva Nepal Evo GTX

Men's Nepal Evo GTX by La Sportiva

Marmot Thor 2P, four-season tent.

By Rick Shandley

Thor is the name Marmot gave to this benchmark four-season, all-weather, mountaineering tent. It proved to be a great name choice. Norse mythology described Thor as the god of thunder, lightning, and storms. The legend of Thor could have easily included unmerciful winds and wind-driven high-elevation snow in the description.

Well, the Marmot Thor two-person we evaluated lived up to every challenging weather condition we were able to get ourselves into during the late winter, early spring, and right up to rain and snow falls in early May.

When your adventure territory includes mountain ranges like the Rockies, Cascades, Sierra Nevada, Mogollons, or any upthrust granite rock formation around the world, the weather can get wicked complicated in a hurry. High winds, thundershowers, and dropping temperatures can even bring snow flurries in June.

Our test grounds were exclusively in the Rocky Mountains of Northern Colorado. We’ve had this Thor pegged to the earth at timberline, about 12,000 feet elevation with knock-down wind gusts and impending storms gathering above the peaks towering above the Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel of Interstate 70 where it crosses the Continental Divide.

Some fierce winds blew through this near 12,000 foot valley. Thor did great.

Yah, baby, the winds could have blown this Terra Cotta/Pale pumpkin roll-caged bubble down to the chairlifts of Vail Ski Resort if it wasn’t nailed down. Good thing we had a grip on the ground in the rocky, still semi-frozen earth, with some sturdy DAC tent pegs and the DAC Dual Diameter Green pole frame structure.

One of the characteristics we really like about the Marmot Thor is the strength of the tent frame. It’s just the way those dual-diameter DAC pre-bent aluminum poles are designed to create a frame that supports pretty much every square-inch of the tent body and storm fly. It’s almost like a NASCAR approved roll cage. No kidding. Marmot uses the traditional X-frame structure as a core tent support, and then uses the best qualities of a tube-tent design by including three cross-brace tent poles to anchor the top-center of the Thor and both lengthwise ends of the tent. Add to that the pole-supported vestibule extension and you have a world class mountaineering tent.

Setting Up the Thor!

Thor setup step 3, with all five DAC tent poles in place. Note three support poles cross the primary X structure.

There are five primary tent poles, and a sixth pole-frame giving the outer edge of the vestibule roof structure and support.

On set-up, the first two poles create an X-frame that gives the tent body shape and primary support. Then three DAC tent poles cross the X to give the entire structure the kind of total strength that is said to be the strongest frame on the market. That would be a hard claim to dispute, as we experienced that strength in some scary winds. Under a snow load, this same strong frame allowed the Thor to retain its correct overall shape which remained taught.

We did experience a light snow load on the Thor. And the elongated dome shape of the Thor was able to shed snow build up on its own due to the design shape and the steep sides. And, from the inside of the Thor, it just took a couple upward hand taps to trigger the snow build up to slide off the tent during the night.

With just a few in-field tent set-ups, the sequence of assembling the Thor from a packed bundle into a ready to live in shelter becomes almost intuitive. It helps that the tent set-up instruction are always available on a pull-out flap sewn into the main tent stuff sack. But with a little practice set-up and take-down can go fairly quick.

Field Observations

The most recent outing with the Thor was on the eve of the Supermoon of 2012, the full-moon that appeared 30-percent larger than normal full-moon events. A significant spring storm was also moving into the Rocky Mountains, and you could see something big was building up. Folks that made their way up into the high country took off because the cloud cover and wind where shutting down the outdoor theater. No Supermoon show that night. Wind gusts got one’s attention late into the night.

Marmot Thor can handle much heavier snow fall than you see here.

Being inside the tent with the backpack gear gave some assurance there was sufficient weight to keep us on the ground. And the spot chosen to set the Thor was sheltered a little on both sides with dwarf pine trees. A four-foot-deep slab of snowpack was at the rear entry of the tent. So we thought we selected the best relatively flat spot we could to shield against the wind. Nonetheless, the wind howled like we were living in the jet stream. The Thor withstood some harsh winds, and we were as safe as we reasonably could hope for.

Early the next morning, the weather was fixing to revisit winter with high-elevation snow fall. It took less than 30 minutes to break down the tent and pack it up. There was some incentive, where we had parked the truck at the trailhead and the entire region at that elevation was looking like we either better get gone or be prepared to ride it out. This was in an avalanche prone area, so we high-tailed it. No cell phone coverage up there. No excuses for missing Monday morning work schedules, and nobody is going to come look for you during a storm.

Inside the Thor

Inside the Thor, we enjoyed ample room. The interior provides enough length and width to accommodate two adults in cold-weather down sleeping bags. Interior height of 43-inches is good for sitting up and moving around. If you are six-foot or taller, the Thor offers plenty of room for your body and gear stored inside.

Interior of Marmot Thor two-person tent. Nice cabin.

Mesh gear-pockets are positioned on both sides of the Thor so each person can stay organized when they empty their pockets at night. A gear hook is located at the crown of the tent to hang a light. You also have an internal guy line system to double-down on structural support when the winds get epic, and you get nervous about going for that e-ticket ride down the mountain.

Although you’ll choose one of the two tent entries to have your vestibule entrance, it is a good option to have when two folks are sharing the tent. Each person can their own tent door. With the vestibule-end of the Thor, you can expect 10-square feet of useable storage space. When you are in wet, muddy, or snow covered ground, the vestibule is roomy enough to slip into the tent part way and take of your boots before getting settled into the townhouse.

In the photo gallery below, you can see an image of the airspace between the main tent fabric (coated 40d 100-percent ripstop Nylon) and the rain fly (40d ripstop Nylon with 1800mm Silicon/Polyurethane coating). That air space works awesome with the two roof-top ventilation openings and the interior oval mesh-barrier windows and mesh tent doors. Ventilation is super with the Thor. Even though each test trek with the Thor was in moisture-laden conditions, condensation build-up was not an issue. That’s huge. With personal insulation being down-filled, for the most part, our down sleeping bags and jackets stayed dry.

Noiseless and snag-free zippers throughout the Thor tent worked flawlessly, even with cold, crooked, fragile, many times broken, hands. The zipper system is a value-add feature that was thought out very well when Marmot product planners and tent designers chose to run with this setup. Most every aspect about the ventilation, egression (tent entry) and exit room works well.

Thor Versatility

Thor vestibule entrance offers 10 square feet of storage.

Yes, the Marmot Thor is a mountaineering tent by design. However, a tent built this sturdy can be used in any environment a backpacker is likely to choose as a destination, even if it’s an arid geography like the trails running to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. When your destination’s weather forecast looks like mild conditions, you can go super lightweight by using just the DAC poles, a footprint ground cloth, and the rain fly for an easy, strong, shelter.

With a MSRP of $499.00 U.S. dollars, you get value that will pay for itself in a season, whichever season you choose. You can invest a few dollars more and get the optional footprint ground cloth sized specifically for the Thor. With the footprint, you have extra protection under the full strength Thor, or you have something to protect your blow-up sleeping pad when you go ultra-light with just the pole system and the rain fly. I immediately saw the range of options Thor offers, maybe you will too.

Packed Weight

Marmot Thor two-person tent packs to 8x20 inches with all components in same stuff sack. But Thor can be broken down into separate parts to store inside the pack or distribute to tent partner.

At a maximum packed weight of about eight pounds and a minimum weight of about seven pounds, the Thor is a significant weight consideration. Yet because the components of the Thor tent are compartmentalized (Stake/guy line/repair kit; DAC pole kit; tent body, and rain fly), you can share the pack weight with your tent partner. If your trail dog has its own pack, you can delegate the stake kit and rain fly to its burden.

In a large capacity backpack like the 65/85-liter pack I go to, the entire Thor can be broken down in component parts and distributed inside the backpack with nothing showing outside the pack. Also, I am able to fold and roll the tent body, and the rain fly, each into much smaller bundles than the 8×20-inch primary stuff sack requires.

The weight of the Thor is negligible (not important) to this writer. If Thor was a pound or two lighter, what would that weight savings do to the structural strength? The DAC pole system is second to none regarding tent strength, reliability, and longevity. The tent is a bomb shelter as far as mountain weather goes, so the weight is simply a fact to be packed, just like the water supply. Neither is light, but both are worth the weight.

Final Thoughts

What didn’t I like about the Marmot Thor two-person tent? That’s a question to ask if it ever failed. In the upper elevations above 7,000 feet, a solid four-season tent is the best practice in gear to have. In my view, this Marmot Thor two-person weather shelter lived up to the claims resonating from so many back country trekkers and mountaineers who count on the strength, durability, and ease of setup/take-down the Thor has delivered for them over the years this tent has been available.

And it’s little wonder why the Marmot Thor two-person and three-person tents have remained in the Marmot equipment lineup since it was launched years ago, because it is a sound structure that stands up to unyielding weather conditions.

• MSRP: $499.00

Features:

Marmot Thor amongst dwarf pine at 12,000 feet.

• • DAC NSL Dual Diameter Green Poles
  • Marmot Knees System
  • Poled Vestibule – For Spacious Storage
  • 40D Nylon R/S Sil/PU Fly
  • Field Repair Kit – Extra Fabric to Fix Rips or Tears, Pole Repair Fleeve, Fly Buckle Back Up
  • Bare Bones Setup – Allows the Fly to be Used by Itself with Footprint to Make a Lightweight, Sturdy Shelter
  • Catenary Cut Floor – Fully Waterproof Floor with Taped Seams Lifted Off the Ground
  • Internal Guy System – Dramatically Increases the Strength of the Tent in Gale-Force Winds
  • Jingle-Free Nylon Zipper Pulls – Promote Undisturbed Sleep
  • Knees Pole System – The Ability to Increase Internal Space Without Adding Weight
  • Light-Reflective Points – To Find Your Tent At Night
  • Optional Footprint – Extra Protection Under Your Tent or for Bare Bones Setup
  • Pole Sleeve-Clip Combo – For Optimal Headroom, Increased Stability and Easy Setup
  • Snag-Free Zipper Flap – Zip and Un-Zip Without Getting the Zipper Caught
  • Two Doors – No Need to Crawl Over Your Tent Mate
  • Unique Pole Structure – For Increased Stability and Increased Internal Space
  • Welded Velcro® Attachments – Welded Velcro Attachments
  • Window Weld™ – Waterproof Window Construction Reduces Weight and Enhances Appearance

Specifications:

• • Colors: Terra Cotta/Pale Pumpkin (117)
  • Maximum Weight: 8 lbs 6 oz / 3.8 kg
  • Minimum Weight: 7 lbs 10 oz / 3.5 kg
  • Dimensions: 43×56x93in / 109×142x236cm
  • Packed Size: 8 x 20 in / 20 x 51 cm
  • Vestibule Area:10 sq ft / 0.9 sq m
  • Tent Poles: Six DAC NSL Poles
  • Floor Area: 38 sq ft / 3.5 sq m
  • Tent floor Material: 70d 100% Nylon 5000mm W/R, F/R
  • Tent canopy Material: 40d 100% Nylon Ripstop, F/R
  • Tent fly Material: 40d 100% Nylon Ripstop Silicon/PU 1800mm W/R, F/R

By Helen Thayer

We all fancy ourselves, at some point in our lives, to be adventurous. And few of us can keep a straight face when there is a puppy in the room. Even the most sober among us cannot remain stoic in the presence a dog, any age, who knows how to make you laugh. Well, here’s a story about dogs, wolves, and people in author Helen Thayer’s book, Three Among Wolves. It is a must read for any level-headed human being who wants to know the real story about the wolf, and their place in the health of North America’s wildlife, and importance to any region within the wolf’s natural range.

“After our year long experience living with wolves we are convinced that wolves must be allowed to exist in their natural state. They are a major reason for the overall health of prey (and game) species as they cull the weak, sick, and old,” said Helen Thayer.

Helen, her husband Bill, and her Canadian Eskimo Husky named Charlie are the “Three Among Wolves,” a true story articulating the adventure and wonder of observing wolf behavior in a setting of the wolf’s choice. These three lived with timber and arctic wolves in Canada’s Yukon Territory (above the Arctic Circle) and the Mackenzie Delta. This adventure was long enough to experience for themselves an animal society so advanced in their family structures, that modern humans could learn lots about parenting and getting along with their neighbors.

And guess what the catalyst was, the diplomatic emissary to make proper introductions between the wolves and humans in this story? It was Charlie, an enormous black Eskimo Husky who was born on an ice flow, chewed ice for water, and trained by an Inuit polar bear hunter to be the early warning alarm for approaching polar bears. It is Charlie, a fur-bearing, four-legged canine that author Jack London would have been honored to write about this creature alongside of “White Fang” and “Call of the Wild.”

While we’re at it, let’s write a book about Charlie! Below is the pivotal role Charlie performed as liaison between mankind and the wolves the Thayers’ studied:

“Following Charlie’s lead the Thayers’ discover the complexities of wolf family structure, including the alpha male and female, care of the pups, hunting and survival skills. This book is both a natural history of wolves and adventure tale. Far from being the viscous killers of popular imagining, the Thayer’s found that wolves form loving family bonds in a world that offers them neither safety nor understanding.” From: Three Among Wolves.

You can order Three Among Wolves by going to Helen Thayer’s website at: www.helenthayer.com

Since its founding in 1932, Helle’s philosophy has remained the same: quality craftsmanship is best preserved by skilled craftsmen. Each and every knife is fashioned by skilled Norwegian craftsmen who take great pride in making each and every Helle knife unique.  The Dokka continues this longstanding tradition and is made by hand in Helle’s factory located deep in the heart of rural western Norway.

Today, Helle knives are sold at over 60 specialty outdoor retailers in North America and customers can count on the same quality regardless of whether they are a serious hunter, scout, or outdoors man. This is a knife that is designed to meet the demands of the outdoors, and will be one that will last for generations.  Helle is distributed in the USA and Canada by Sport Hansa LLC.

RuffWear Palisades Dog Pack

Ruffwear Performance Dog Gear is on a mission. That mission is to build performance product to enhance and inspire outdoor adventures for dogs and their human companions. Ruffwear combines technology, quality, fit, function, and safety to meet the needs of active and adventurous canines and their humans.

Check out the information below to guide you in selecting a dog-pack that is right for your four-legged companion. Most trail-sized dogs have tremendous power-to-weight that gives your dog the ability to carry its own food, water, and credit cards on a day hike or overnight trek.

But there are some guidelines you need to consider when you decide to invest in a pack for your dog. Ruffwear offers some good, common sense ways to outfit your dog with its own saddle bags.

Pack selection and packing tips:

Packing and planning for a multi-day backpacking trip that is also easy on the paws can challenge us to consider exactly what we choose to pack in and pack out. Here are a few tricks to help with planning for your next expedition:

What size pack should I order for my dog? Ruffwear packs are designed to fit based on your dog’s girth measurement. We find that all dogs are unique and finding the right sized pack for your canine companion is important.

• Size down to ensure a snug fit. If your pup is in-between sizes, sizing down is recommended. If the pack is too large, it can cause shifting and a less-than-ideal fit.

• Adjust the pack to fit comfortably over the shoulders.

Ruffwear packs are designed to position the majority of the weight forward, rather than in the middle of their back. This allows the strong parts of your dog’s frame to support the weight inside. You can adjust the front martingale on all of our packs to find the best fit for your dog’s shape.

How much weight should I load into my dog’s pack? The total weight of your canine’s pack should not exceed 25-percent of their body weight.

• Be sure to load both sides of your dog’s pack equally. Keeping the saddlebag load balanced will minimize on-trail adjustments and provide a more stable load for your dog to carry.

• If you are using our Ruffwear Palisades Pack, use the built in compression straps. Along with the general weight of the pack, these straps will compress the gear inside leaving more room for weaving through the trees and over rocks.

Here’s an example of how to outfit your dog with a Ruffwear Palisades dog-pack:

Ruffwear Palisades Dog Pack

USE:

Multi-day adventures made possible with expansive capacity, forward-positioned, weight conscious saddlebags. Refined design makes the Palisades Pack even lighter while maintaining its innovative features and long-term durability.

KEY FEATURES:

• Load stability and weight distribution provided by the slip-free, five-point adjustment straps of the Web Master™ Harness chassis
• Removable saddlebags for initial harness fitting, at rest stops and for water crossings
• Hydration made simple with two collapsible bottles, each with a one-liter capacity
• Compression system helps secure the pack load and allow for a more comfortable, compact carry
• Thoughtful design elements: easy-access stash pockets, coated zippers, high-visibility reflective trim, external gear loops, and aluminum V-ring leash attachment
• Helping dogs up and over obstacles is easy with the balanced assistance handle

SIZING

Dog Girth: Capacity

S 22” – 27” 56 – 68 cm 610 in3 (10 L)

M 27” – 32” 68 – 81 cm 793 in3 (14 L)

L/XL 32” – 42” 81 – 107 cm 1098 in3 (19 L)

What is Girth? Girth is the measurement around widest part of rib cage

Color: red currant

Sizes: S, M, L/XL

Suggested retail: $129.95

This technology uses a micro-thin nano polymer that is applied to the down, creating a water repellent, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial insulation that actually floats on water. The result is a down feather that feels like regular down and repels water while maintaining its loft and insulation value,
even in the wettest of conditions. It also maintains it ability to

breathe, which is a key factor for comfort.  The shell of the Mojave Jacket is made of lightweight but durable Pertex® Quantum fabric making it the ideal jacket for outdoor enthusiasts no matter what Mother Nature has in store. For more information, visit www.brooks-range.com.

Large digital numbering is easy to read

By Mary Webb

Now, not only can you feel the burn trekking on a full-geared mountain bike, but you can also measure how many calories you burn with Suunto’s M2 series watch for women. The two piece watch and heart monitor set went with me on a 30 mile Mount Shasta bike ride, steep-hilled road bike training, and on the elliptical at the gym; monitoring me with every beat of my heart.

Watch this:

The M2 series is a fashionable way to stay fit. With a wide clock face, nine different language options and a large digital numbering system, it’s easy to track the progress of your calorie burn and heart rate increase; speeding along bike trails and track speed runs. There are several adjustment holes in the watch band to accommodate a number of wrist sizes, and the rubber material of the band provided relief as perspiration set in.

Easy as one, two, three buttons comprise the M2, and each are responsible for a different function.

Button 3: An athlete is on the move. There are times when my watch bumps into the side of my leg or perhaps my handle bars, turning on the exercise recorder when I don’t necessarily want it to.  It’s nice to have the option of button 3, which is a locking mechanism for the M2. This locking mechanism allows the watch to stay in “time only” mode only by simply holding down the button. A series of digital arrows spin clockwise around the face and let you know when you are locked and loaded.

The M2 facilitates a real-time heart rate

Button 2: Set’s the groove. By holding down this button, the familiar stream of digital arrows let you know when you are ready to program.  Here you can set the time, alarm, date, weight, fitness level, max heart rate, resting heart rate, and watch sounds. This button can also be used to check the date and seconds during the course of the day as well.

Button 1: Time to start recording those amazing 100 mile bike events and waterfall hikes! The M2 will ask you if you want to select a new exercise, a previous exercise or a history trend of previous exercises.  If you choose a new exercise, you will push button 2 and you will notice that the watch is looking for your heart rate. If it finds it, that’s a good thing!  Instantly you will see your real-time resting heart rate, but make sure to push button 1 again to start recording your exercise. The first time I put on the watch I didn’t do this and was quite disappointed that I couldn’t read my calorie results after trudging up mountain-like terrain.

After you push your body to great heights and are ready for a nice cool drink and shower, push button 1 again, this will stop the recording process and allow you to view your results. I really appreciate the summary, it was very helpful, especially preparing for my Mount Shasta event. The M2 shows you your heart rate automated into 3 different zones. You will be able to see what percentage of your exercise comprises each zone.  Zone 1 being the easiest and zone 3 being the harder working heart rate of the 3. It will also tell you what percentage you are under in zone 1 or over in zone 3, something to be cognizant of to not over exert yourself. It shows the calories you have burned. I really enjoyed this aspect because I was always curious how many calories I was burning on my morning bike ride while training for Mount Shasta.  Nice to know I can have that other half of bagel in the morning without too much concern.  The average heart rate is recorded, as well as the peak heart rate. Previous exercises allow you to compare against your current exercise, and the history trend is an accumulative perspective.  Don’t worry, if you end up starting your watch and your neighbor stops over for some chit chat and coffee, you can choose to cancel your exercise and opt for “no-save” so the interruption will not interfere with the cumulative totals.

Dual-Comfort belt monitor

On my Mount Shasta ride I surpassed my maximum heart rate. At the end of the exercise recording, the summary gave me the option to supersede my maximum heart rate and it automatically gave me a new training goal. I was amazed to see that I burned more than 1300 calories and was more often in zone 3 than not.

Keep your belts firmly fastened:

The Dual-Comfort belt monitor works with the M2 watch to communicate your heart rate. The belt is easy to put on, there is an elastic adjustable strap that adjusts for all body types; with a quick click into place, built in rubber sensors hug your heart while you pick up the pace.

What is impressive about this belt is that it is compatible with most gym cardio equipment; paired up with Suunto Fitness Solution (see link below), club members are able to generate reports on their progress and instructors are able to determine the fitness needs of their clients. www.suunto.com/en-US/Products/Fitness-Solution/suunto-fitness-solution

While the M2 can only give you the previous exercise summary, there is a website called www.movescount.com that is a great platform for the M2. I created an account and I was able to log in my individual exercises and provide important attribute information that will be beneficial for future events.

If you are looking for fashion and function, l would keep my eye out for Suunto’s M2. For a suggested retail price of $120.00 you are on your way to tracking your fitness goals. The M2 comes in black and fuchsia and will become a staple to your outdoor lifestyle.

Rubber strap wicks away perspiration

Accessories for this product:

M2 Battery Kit Black

M-Series Black Pattern Strap

M-Series Plain Black Strap

M-Series Ventilated Black Strap

Specifications:

CHRONOGRAPH

Stopwatch

HEART RATE

Calories: In real time

HR in real time

HR zones

Memory Capacity: 1 log and 4 week totals in unit history menu

HEART RATE BELTS

Suunto Comfort Belt (Analog Coded): Compatible

Suunto Dual Comfort Belt (Analog Coded & ANT Coded): Included

OTHER

Dot-matrix display

Menu-based user interface

Operating temperature: -10°C to +50°C / +14°F to +122°F

Selectable metric/imperial units

Storage temperature: -30°C to +60°C / -22°F to +140°F

Water resistance: 30 m / 100 ft

Weight            Max. 40 g

POWER

Low battery warning

User replaceable battery

SPECIAL

Button lock

Languages: Menu in 9 languages (EN, DE, FR, ES, IT, FI, SV, NL, PT)

TRAINING AND EXERCISE GUIDANCE

Automatically switches between 3 HR zones

Recovery time suggestion after exercise: false

WATCH

12/24h

Calendar clock

Daily alarms: 1

Spring wild flowers in Death Valley NP, California. Photo by Alan Van, Courtesy National Park Service.

By Dan Sanchez

Spring is usually one of the best times to visit many National Parks to see the real beauty of the foliage and waterfalls and lakes are typically at full capacity. But some National Parks that are well known for hot temperatures in the summer, are also synonymous with oceans of wildflowers. So springtime makes for a great way to see colors and flows you don’t normally see in the summer and fall months. Here are some favorites that are best to visit in the spring.

Death Valley NP, CA
Death Valley is famous for three things; extremely hot temperatures, its below sea level valleys and spectacular spring wildflowers. Death Valley in spring is when it is most beautiful and safe from extreme temperatures. The area fills with seas of gold, purple, pink or white flowers, depending on the conditions.

Shenandoah  NP, Virginia
Before the humidity and people that fill this park during the summer, the months of April and May are best to see the wildlowers that cover the forest floors. The park is known for its wild trilliums and pink azaleas that bloom in May, then mountain laurel in June.

Joshua Tree NP, California
Another California desert area where the  heat is almost unbearable in the summer months, has relatively cooler temperatures in the spring. But the area also comes alive with blooming Joshua trees with large off-white flowers. According to park rangers, the best times are in April and May when the cacti are also bursting with bright flowers and the park becomes a desert in bloom with colorful wildflowers in both high and low elevations in the park.

Great Smokey Mountains NP, Tennessee/North Carolina
Probably the best park to see wildflowers is the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. In spring, the trails are surrounded by blooming wildflowers. Park officials say there are more than 1,660 varieties, more than any other national park in North America. The park also has flowers that are only seen in the spring months, such as the spring ephemerals that appear in early spring, flower, fruit, and die within two months. Some of the wild flowers you can see in this park include trilliums, orchids, violets, iris, and will bloom during February-April. This park also holds the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, a week-long festival of programs and guided hikes that explore the life in the park.

Saguaro NP Arizona
Another hot spot that has milder temperatures in the spring, Saguaro is also filled with beauty as the desert bursts into colors not seen at any other time of the year. The Saguaros bloom and wildflowers like the gold Mexican poppy, red penstemons, and desert marigolds bring vibrant colors to this rocky terrain. Even trees, shrubs, and other cactuses are in bloom, like creosote bushes, chollas, and hedgehogs.

Zion NP Utah
Although Zion can have frosty temperatures in the spring, the park does get hot during the popular summer months. But because the park has an abundance of flora mixed with red sandstone, the wildflowers that bloom here provide some of the most beautiful scenery on the west. Canyon walls feature hanging gardens of flowers can’t be seen anywhere else.

For more information on any of the national parts mentioned here, visit www.NPS.gov.